The University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has inducted 84 new veterinary surgeons during its 36th Attestation and Oath-taking Ceremony held on Wednesday.
The ceremony, which took place at the Muhammadu Indimi International Conference Centre, was marked by outstanding academic achievements, with Dr. Umar Faruq emerging as the overall best graduating student after clinching 12 academic awards.
Among the honours won by Faruq was the prestigious Dean’s Prize for the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Mohammed Laminu Mele, commended the inductees for their resilience throughout their six-year academic training.
Mele also announced key institutional developments, including the donation of a digital X-ray machine and automated surgical tables to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital by an anonymous benefactor.
He assured stakeholders that the university management was addressing infrastructural challenges, noting that the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine had been prioritised for renovation and improvement of staff offices.
The Sub-Dean of the Faculty, Dr. ThankGod E. Onyiche, administered the professional oath to the graduates, formally conferring on them the title of Doctor.
He assured the inductees that their training at UNIMAID had equipped them with the competence required to compete globally in veterinary practice.
Also speaking, the Vice President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Prof. Halima Idrisa Gambo, described the induction as a sacred professional commitment.
Gambo urged the newly inducted veterinary surgeons to uphold professional ethics, reject quackery, and embrace the “One Health” philosophy, which promotes the link between animal, human, and environmental health.
Earlier, the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Mohammed Ahmed Umar, highlighted the faculty’s academic progress, noting that its teaching staff possess international experience from countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan.
He disclosed that the faculty had secured four National Research Fund concept notes from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and was expecting further facility support under the Livestock Productivity, Resilience and Support Project.
Umar urged the new veterinary surgeons to remain committed to lifelong learning and serve as ambassadors of the institution in addressing zoonotic diseases and strengthening national food security.
